South African Jazz Icon, Dr Abdullah Ibrahim, will be honoured for his contribution to South African music and jazz at a special event at the Cape Town City Hall this Friday, 12 April.

It forms part of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s initiative, Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series.

This will be the seventh edition of the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series, which recognises and acclaims South Africa’s living legends in the creative and cultural sectors.

Previous honourees are Dr Pitika Ntuli, Dr James Matthews, Dr John Kani, Dr Madala Kunene and the late Dr Madosini Mpahleni and Dr Peter Magubane.

Following the ceremony, Ibrahim – who returned home to South Africa after a five-year absence – will perform a set at Cape Town City Hall, a special event in itself, as this was where he first professionally performed, aged just 16, when audiences were still segregated.

Over the course of his career Abdullah Ibrahim has performed with the greatest names to ever emerge from South Africa’s legendary jazz scene including his work with Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Jonas Gwangwa, Kippie Moeketsi and many more.

Nelson Mandela once called Ibrahim, ”South Africa’s Mozart.”

Ibrahim travels to Gauteng afterwards, where he will perform at the SunBet Arena at Time Square on 14 April.

He says he is honoured and thrilled to be performing in his home country once more.

As I embrace my 90th year, I am delighted to be undertaking these concerts. For me, they are a deeply personal dream – envisaged first many years ago. Perhaps when as a free South African I bought land, or perhaps so many years before that when I was forced to exile? But certainly, I was thrown into sharp relief during the Covid pandemic, when I wondered if, or when, I would see home again.

EVENT DATES:

12 April – Cape Town, City Hall

14 April – Gauteng – SunBet Arena at Time Square

Tickets on sale from www.ticketpro.co.za